I couldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted the first one — wedged between the seatbelt strap and the upholstery. Then another one near the backseat. And one more by the door hinge. These things were everywhere in my car.

At first, I thought they were just some kind of dried insect. But when I looked closer… those pincers, the long legs, the slightly terrifying face — I knew I needed answers.

So I Googled it.

Turns out, they’re Solifugae, more commonly known as camel spiders, wind scorpions, or sun spiders. And no, they’re not spiders or scorpions — but something in between. Technically, they belong to the order Solifugae, and while they don’t have venom, they can bite — and it hurts.

What Happens If They Bite You?